Livi Zheng Introduces Indonesian Culture Through Film

Yogyakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesian film director Livi Zheng has tried to introduce Indonesian culture to the international community through the first film that she directed, titled "Brush with Danger."
"Through the film, I have tried to introduce Indonesian culture (to the world)," Livi Zheng said here on Tuesday.

Zheng inserted Gamelan musical nuances in the opening scene of the film.

"Brush With Danger" was nominated in the best picture category for the 2015 Oscars and competed with movies such as "The Hobbit" and "Transformers."

Nevertheless, Zheng admitted, the music was sounded a little vague because it had to be combined with elements of other music.

"(That was so) because it (the film) is for the American market and the production houses and the executive producer are also from America," she said.

Because the film tells a tale about warriors and painters, Zheng put dozens of paintings from Indonesia in various fragments of the film.

"During a tour behind the scenes, I always explain that (a particular) painting is from Indonesia," she said.

Zheng also claimed that she gave Indonesian traditional herbs to the main team involved in film production.

"To the film editing crew, I also give Atom, or Indonesian peanuts," she said.

Many other citizens have yet to recognize Indonesian culture properly because Indonesia has many diverse cultures.

"So when I say I am an Indonesian film director, the crew and the executive producer ask me,  'where is Indonesia?' But when they visit Indonesia, they are very impressed," she said.

Earlier, Livi Zheng faced difficulties in directing her first film, titled "Brush with Danger" in Hollywood, the United States, as she was underestimated as an Asian.

"One of my colleagues said that the three barriers I would face in directing a movie in the Hollywood film industry were, being an Asian, a youngster, and a woman," Zheng affirmed here.

According to Zheng, American cinema is full of creative people who are highly experienced, and predominantly white males.

Zheng admitted having encountered difficulties in becoming a director in the Hollywood film industry. However, she could eventually overcome the three obstacles through her hard work.

According to Zheng, her film was nominated for the Oscars as it showed a side of humanity that was different from several other nominated films that carried graphics and futuristic technology themes. (WDY)